The Rajasthan High Court directed the state government to submit a detailed response on its plans to conserve the historic Gadisar Lake in Jaisalmer. The 14th-century artificial reservoir was constructed by Maharawal Gadsi Singh to meet the water needs of his arid lands and now faces severe conservation challenges.
The lake's catchment area has shrunk significantly due to encroachment, urban pressure, siltation, and pollution, threatening its ecological balance. Historically, it served as Jaisalmer's primary water source and rainwater harvesting system. The lake supports migratory birds during winter and is surrounded by ghats, temples, and chhatris, including the famous Tilon-ki-Pol gateway. (The Daulat Bagh and 1637 AD marble pavilion built under Jahangir and Shah Jahan belong to Ana Sagar Baradari in Ajmer, not to Gadisar Lake.)